op cleveland



E. F. MARTLNET 19, SUCTION CLEANING APPARATUS Re.

oligial' Filed Jne 1927 Reissued July 19, 1932 UNITED 'STATES PATENT OFFICE EUGENE F. MARTINET, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR T THE I. A. GEIER GOMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO SUCTION CLEANING APPARATUS Original No. 1,753,799, dated April 8, 1930, Serial No.

filed April 7, 1932.

My invention rela-tes to improvements in suction cleaning apparatus, and more particularly, to the suction cleaning nozzle and its associated removable and adjustable brush attachment adapted to be actuated into a plurality of operative positions or out of o erative relation within the nozzle. The o ject of m invention is to provide a readily renewa le brush attachment, preferably inte- I'iorly of a suitably shaped nozzle, which will be adapted for all of the various requirements made upon a suction cleaning tool of this class.

In Letters Patent to Robertson, No. 1,382,-

548, June 21, 1921, there is shown and described a retractible brush member positioned rearwardly of a suction cleaner nozzle, which is adapted to be actuated into spring-pressed, floating relation with respect to the surface that is beingcleaned; the brush being incapable of ready removal and replacement.

The present im rovement contemplates further features o advantage and invention, comprising a readily removable and replaceable brush member disposed interiorly of the suitably recessed nozzle, which brush is provided with three distinct positions, affording operative and inoperative relation respecting the associated nozzle. Thus,

.30 in addition to affording a completely retracted and floating position, respectively for my improved brush member, a third or fullyextended and locked position is afforded for the brush which, moreover, may be readily removed for cleaning or replacement, as may be found necessary.

It has been found in practice that while the floating, spring-pressed relation of the brushcommonly is required for cleaning rugs and floor coverings, a rigidly attached and fully extended brush member often is more elective for heavier cleaning operations, and

articularly for cleaning ad] acent bare floors Borderin the rugs, without readjustment of the heig t of the suction cleaning nozzle.

These requirements all are admirably met by m improved construction, the details of which may best be explained in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view of a. suction cleaning noz- 198,957, led June 15, 1927. Application for reissue Serial No. 603,905.

and nozzle with brush attachment in side view;

Fig. 4 is a rear view of the suction cleaner nozzle upon a materially larger scale, partially broken away and in section, showing the brush in its retracted position;

Fig. 5 is a similar view illustrating theadjustment of the cam plate to insure the floating relation ofthe brush, and

Fig. 6 is another similar view illustrating the looked and fully extended position of the brush, from which it may also be removed.

Throughout the several gures of the drawing I .have employed the same lcharacter of re erence to indicate similar parts.

Referring initially to Fig. 3, showing a portable suction cleaner a having a nozzle tool b forwardly positioned thereon and equipped with my instant improvements, it will be seen that the relative height of the elongated suction mouth nozzle opening may be regulated by the screw c acting upon the pivoted bracket e of the rear supporting wheel c. By this adjustment the entire suction cleaner and nozzle may be rocked on the axis of the front wheels d. This serves, in turn, to regulate the height of the nozzle opening with respect to the ioor or cleaned surface.

As best shown in Figs. 1 and 4, the brush attachment is positioned interiorly and at the rear of the nozzle opening b within a longitudinal recess formed by an integral shoulder b as a part of the nozzle. casting. This shoulder, in connection with the longitudinal L-shaped mounting strip e, affords an effective air passage avoiding the formation of eddy currents, with certain settling out of the dust and refuse. Exteriorly of the nozzle is a soft rubber bumper b* terminally attached at its ends to the ends of the nozzle casting.

The removable brush member f is retained normally in position by means of the stud or detent f engaging one end, and the springpressed stud or detent f normally,but removably engaging the other end when the brush is released by the cam plate. This cam plate, as shown in full and dotted lines in its three controlling positions, serves to regulate the operative condition of the brush member. As shown in Fig. 5, the cam plate g has two longitudinal slots g and an intermediate three-position slot g with respect to stud or operating member f3 extending therethrough rearwardly of the brush. When the cam plateis in the position indicated in Fig. 4, said studis engaged by the upper branch g3 of irregular slot g and the brush is maintained locked in its fully retracted position against the tension of bowed spring h. This maintains the brush in inoperative relation with respect to the nozzle for ordinary air cleaning operation.

Upon partially withdrawing the cam plate toward the left, however, as indicated in Fig. 5, the stud f3 is released within the open intermediate portion of the slot g, thus permitting the brush a free or floating relation within the nozzle, against the tension of its spring, to co-operate with the cleaning actionof the air currents generated by the suction cleaner. Preferably the height of the nozzle opening above the cleaned surface is adjusted by means of the screw c, and this relation of the brush is one admirably adapted for air cleaning and brushing the dirt concurrently from rugs. Y

Of course, it is equally desirable to clean the adjacent bare iioor and bordering edges of rugs and other ioor coverings and this preferably is accomplished without readjusting the height of the nozzle opening, so that the cleaning operation may not be materially interrupted. Accordingly, the cam plate is fully withdrawn toward the left, as indicated in Fig. 6, whereupon the stud f3 will be locked in the lower branch g* of slot g and the brush thereby is firmly locked in its fully extended position to compensate for the slightly lower level of the bare floor, as compared with the surface of the rug. lThis rigid position and relation of the brush, moreover, is more eective for certain kinds of cleaning, such as the removal of caked dirt or lint.

It will be understood that with the ready movement of the cam plate to the right either of the other positions of the brush immediately is available. In order to insure the retention of an adjusted position of the cam plate, rear recesses fi', i and a third recess which is shown engaged by the spring pressed ball i are provided therein adapted alternatively to be engaged by the spring-pressed ball z' provided intermediately in the nozzle casting.

It will be observed that the lower branch g4 of the slot g is open at the extreme right to register with the intermediate slot j provided'in the rear wall or lip of the nozzle suction mouth to accommodate the movement of the stud f3 positioned in the slot j. This accordingly permits the ready removal of the brush for cleaning or replacement merely by releasing one end through retracting the spring-pressed stud f o`n the right. Otherwise, 'the coaction of the studs f', f and f3, serves to lock the brush in the extended position indicated in Fig. 6, as already described.

Although the brush member. is positioned interiorly of the nozzle in fully protected relation, and without in any way impairing its eiiiciency inthe compact relation herein provided, the slotted nozzle and actuating cam permit the immediate actuation of the brush member into any of its ythree alternative posi. tions, or its removal and replacement, with as much ease as though said brushmember were exteriorly placed.

Having now described apparatus embodying my invention, and the manner ci its use, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, the following:

1. The combination with a suction cleaner nozzle of the class described, ofa brush member adjustably positioned adjacent the mouth of said nozzle, an actuating member connected to said brush member and extending exteriorly of said nozzle, and a plate having a cam slot, with upper and lower locking branches, engaging said actuating member and adapted to lock said actuating member 100 in two alternative positions to fully extend or fully retract 'said brush member.

2. The combination with a suction cleaner nozzle of the class described, of a brush member adjustably positioned within the mouth 105 of said nozzle, a spring normally maintaining said brush member in resilient Heating relation with respect to the surface being cleaned, a brush actuating member connected to said brush member and extending exte- 110 riorly of said nozzle, and a slidable plate having a cam slot receiving said actuating member and being adapted to lock said actuating member in two alternative positions to fully extend or fully retract said brush mem- 115 ber.

3, The combination with a vertically slottedsucti0n cleaner nozzle of the class described, of a brush member adjustably positioned within the mouth of said nozzle, a plate slidably mounted upon said nozzle, said plate having formed therein a combined cam and locking slot, and an actuating member engaging said brush member and extending through said slots.

4. The combination with a suction cleaner nozzle of thefclass described, of a brush member adj ustably positioned adjacent the mouth of said nozzle, a plate slidably mounted upon said nozzle, said plate having formed there- 13 in a slot comprising a divergent cam portion and an upper and lower locking portion, and an actuating member engaging said brush member, extending through said slot and adapted to be engaged in the locking portion of said slot to lock said brush member in its adjusted position.

5. The combination with a suction cleaner nozzle of the class described, of a brush member adjustably positioned adjacent the mouth of said nozzle, a plate slidably mounted uponl said nozzle. said plate having formed therein a combined cam and locking slot comprising an inclined portion and oppositely extend- 16 posed locking shoulders, and a brush actuating member connected to said brush member, extending through said slot and adapted to engage said locking shoulders to lock said brush member in its extended and retracted positions, respectively.

6. The combination With avert-ically slotted suction cleaner nozzle of the class-described, ot a brush member adjustably` positioned Within the mouth of said nozzle, a plate slidably mounted upon said nozzle, said plate having a slot therein providing a cam face and upper and lower locking faces, and a brush actuating member connected to said brush member, extending through said slots and adapted to engage said locking faces to lock said brush member in its extended and retracted positions, respectively.

7 The combination with a suction cleaner nozzle of the class described, of a brush member mounted thereon adjacent the mouth of said nozzle, a plate slidably mounted upon said nozzle, said nozzle having a vertical slot therein, said plate having formed there- 40 in a cam slot comprising an intermediate expanded inclined portion and connected oppositely extending substantially horizontal upper and. lower locking portions, forming locking faces, a brush actuating member connected to said brush member and extending through said slots and adapted to engage said locking faces to lock said brush member in its extended and retracted positions, respectively, and a spring engaging said brush 5 member to maintain said brush member in floating relation with respect 'to the surface being cleaned when the actuating member is positioned in the intermediate portion of said cam slot.

8. The combination with a suction cleaning tool having an elongated suction mouth with its rear lip slotted, of a brush having a stud positioned in said slot said vbrush being removably positioned Within the mouth, means 0 tensioned against the brush normally to press it against the surface being cleaned, and means removably holding the brush Within the suction mouth. d

9. The combination with a suction cleaning 5 tool having an elongated suction mouth with ing locking portions forming oppositely dis its rear lip slotted, of a brush having a stud positioned in said slot said brush being removably positioned Within the mouth, and means removably holding the brush Within the suction mouth.

EUGENE F, MARTINET. 

